josh@fightingartshouston.com

Josh Hill was born and raised in Houston, Texas where he first started practicing the martial arts of Tae Kwon Do and Shotokan Karate around the age of 5 years old.  Josh continued training in the martial arts until 1992 when he joined the St. John’s middle school wrestling team.  Josh continued wrestling for St. John’s through high school, where he served as wrestling team captain his junior and senior years, winning numerous tournaments and awards.  In 1997, Josh began his informal training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) by training at various local academies.

In 1998, Josh went to college at the University of Texas in Austin where he continued wrestling for UT’s NCWA wrestling program.  While in Austin, Josh also began his formal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training with Relson Gracie black belt Phil Cardella in 1998 while competing in both wrestling and BJJ.  Josh also began his training with Rudy Vasquez for both boxing and Muay Thai kickboxing while in Austin.  In 1999, Josh began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Carlos Machado black belt William Vandry.  It was around this time that Josh decided to take his training seriously and to make the transition from wrestling into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as his primary competitive sport.  Under the training of William Vandry, Josh was able to progress to the level of blue belt before graduating college and moving back to Houston for law school.

Upon returning to Houston, Josh began training with Carlos Machado black belt Alvis Solis at the Solis Martial Arts Academy in 2002.  At the same time, Josh returned to his wrestling roots as an assistant wrestling coach for St. John’s for two seasons.  Josh also began training Muay Thai kickboxing under Kru Pong.  Josh continues to train at the Solis Martial Arts Academy and currently holds the rank of Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Alvis Solis.

Josh is not only a martial artist.  He is also a husband to his high school sweetheart, Lauren Hill, a father to his beautiful daughter, Ellie, and he works as an Assistant District Attorney for Harris County, Texas.

Training and Teaching Experience:

• Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Alvis Solis – started training in 1997
• High School & College Wrestler – started in 1992
• Boxing - trained by and fought for Rudy Vasquez since 1998
• Muay Thai training under Rudy Vasquez and Kru Pong since 1998
• St. John’s High School assistant wrestling coach 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons

Competition Achievements:

• 1st place:  2010 Prostar Grappling Championship, black belt, featherweight
• 2nd place:  2010 Prostar Grappling Championship, black belt, open weight
• Competitor:  2010 IBJJF Pan American Championship, black belt featherweight
• 2nd place:  2010 IBJJF Houston Open, black belt featherweight
• Competitor:  2009 IBJJF US National Championship, black belt featherweight
• 1st place:  2009 Texas Police Olympics, brown belt open weight
• Competitor:  2009 IBJJF World Championship, brown belt featherweight
• 1st place:  2009 Animal Fightwear Submission Championship, brown & black belt open weight
• 1st place:  2009 Animal Fightwear Submission Championship, advanced nogi lightweight
• 1st place:  2008 Texas International Grappling Festival, brown belt lightweight
• 1st place:  2008 Texas International Grappling Festival, advanced nogi lightweight
• 3rd place:  2008 Texas International Grappling Festival, brown belt open weight
• 2nd place:  2005 Texas International Grappling Festival, gi
• 3rd place:  2005 Texas International Grappling Festival, nogi
• 2nd place:  2004 Texas BJJ Invitational, nogi
• 3rd place:  2004 Texas BJJ Invitational, gi
• 3rd place:  2004 Smack Down in H-Town, advanced gi lightweight
• 2nd place:  2003 Texas Shootout Grappling Challenge, gi
• 2nd place:  2003 Texas Shootout Grappling Challenge, nogi
• 2nd place:  2002 Southwest Submission Championship 2, gi
• 2nd place:  2002 Southwest Submission Championship 2, nogi
• 1st place:  2002 United Freestyle Championship, advanced nogi lightweight
• 2nd place:  2002 Smack Down in H-Town, open weight
• 1st place:  2001 Texas BJJ Challenge
• 1st place:  1999 Big D Nationals Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
• Win by KO in 59 sec:  1999 Fight Night Amateur Boxing
• 1st place:  1999 NCWA College Wrestling Conference Championship
• Qualifier & Competitor:  1999 NCWA National College Wrestling Championship
• 1st place:  1999 Longhorn Open College Wrestling Tournament
• 1st place:  1998 1st Invitational Machado Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
• 1st place & State Qualifier:  1998 High School Regional Wrestling Championship
• 3rd place:  1998 Dr. Pepper Invitational Wrestling Tournament
• 1st place:  1998 SWC Wrestling Conference Championship
• 1st place:  1997 Coca Cola Invitational Wrestling Championship
• 1st place:  1997 Viking Invitational Wrestling Tournament
• 3rd place:  1997 High School Regional Wrestling Championship
• 3rd place:  1997 SWC Wrestling Conference Championship
• 3rd place:  1996 High School Regional Wrestling Championship
• 3rd place:  1996 SWC Wrestling Conference Championship